If you feel there are other thoughtful people who might want to weigh in on what I’ve proposed about how to untangle that area, please ask them to read my story on my blog and write in. I consider myself to be part of a community of good will, now. Or….at least, I hope so, Jack.

Bob Katzman

Well, today the Hamas Militia is outlawed by the new Palestinian Government. They know diplomacy doesn’t work with radicals.

Add the Israel position to attack and destroy Hamas, and you have the great opportunity for Peace in that small part of a volatile region.

I’m all for it. I dislike diplomacy when it extend beyond five days in the face a grave threats. After five days, it’s time to act!

Looks like we’ll see some real action soon instead of more time-wasting talk.

Don

Talk, talk, talk, while Iran-backed terrorists groups keep on killing and taking ground. Gaza is now moving toward being an Islamic State.

Go ahead, talk some more about peace.

It’s 1938 again with Prime Minister Chamberlain proclaiming “peace for our time.” I’m surprised Senator John Edwards does not make that slogan his “Bumper Sticker”!

Don

I was somewhat surprised to see Jamil’s rejection of the two state solution that everyone else seems to have accepted as the ultimate outcome. However, I am in agreement with him. The two state solution has always seemed to me like a bad deal for the Palestinians. The prefered solution, to me, would be a secular nation that accepted all citizens as equal.

I am not totally ignorant of history, I understand why Israel was created as a Jewish state. Unfortunately, I can’t think of any religious state that turned out well in the end.

So Bob, to sum up, although your plan may sound reasonable to people like you and me, to someone rooted to their homeland, it is like suggesting taking a child but replacing it with one of equal or greater value. It is good you think about these things but you need to become more aware of the cultural sensibilities of the people involved. Try reading Thomas Freidman’s “The Lexus and the Olive Tree”.

When the Chinese have expanded their naval fleets and start patrolling the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf with their missile subs and aircraft carrier destroying surface ships, the balance of power will certainly shift in the Middle East as they help their Muslim friends.

I still say America should change its approach to fighting wars, but we are such a pacifist, idealistic-focused society, I doubt we will in time.

Don

so here are my comments based on the difference between Jews and Israeli Jews:

- What sacrifice does israel make? (the same as the last comment)
- You said you want to think out of the box but you let the people get out of the area and still think in the same box
- No one will accept to be forced to move to his friend’s house just because his friend’s house has more rooms (none of them will accept that)
- You have to remember that many Palestinians have already moved out from Palestine in 1948, 1967 and are still moving out but none of them has forgot his right to get back even though many of them become wealthy
- the West bank as you may know is not totally controlled by Palestinians, only the large cities are (some how)
- 100 years ago Jews, Christians and Muslims used to live together in the same cities without any problem so my suggestion is to create a new state (call it something like IsrPal) that belongs to all religions instead of 2 states, one for Jews (Israeli) and one for non-Jews (Israeli) and the people will live again in peace and the democracy should be applied on all people. The president can be Christian, the ministers can be Jews (non-Israeli) or Muslims.
In fact Palestine, as I said, was for all 3 religions but now it happen to be only for 2, Christians and Muslims, thanks to Israel that created Jews(Israeli) based state.

So what could be better than applying DEMOCRACY to all people from all religions living in the same place and let them elect one common president and one parliament similar to the American Model!!!!

I hope I was thinking out of the box and applied a real existing good system (the American democracy model) and I did not let anyone scarify nor forced anyone to leave his place. What do you think??